The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-01-27
CHAPTER XIV.

o CLOCK.
CHAPTER XIV.
Ionly saw Miss Robertson for few
minutes at breakfast-time.
The steward, as usual, carried their
breakfast on tray to the door; and
taking it in, she saw me and came for
ward.
lis it all wellP" she asked, quickly
and eagerly.
.All we'll" l replied.
''He is IN the hold" she whispered,
''and no one knows?"
HE is in the hold, and the crew be-
lieve to man, that he is overheard. l"
1T is a good beginning" she af-
firmed, with faint smile playing over
her pale face.
Thanks to your great courage! You
| performed your part admirably"
There is that hateful carpenter
watching us through the skylight, :"
she whispered, without raising her
eyes. Tell me one thing before go
when will the ship reach the port she
is to stop at?'
81 shall endeavor to make it Friday
afternoon.
1.-The day after tomorrow"
She clasped her hands suddenly, and
exclaimed, with a la:le sob in her voice:
''Oh, let us pray that God will be mer-
ciful and protect us!''
l had no thoughts for myself rs 1
watched her enter her cabin. The sit
uation was, indeed, dreadful one for
so sweet and helpless 4 woman to be
! placed in. |, a rough, sturdy fellow,
used to the dangers Of the sea, was
scared at our position when contem-
plated it. Truly might say that our
lives hung by hair. and that whether
we were to live or perish dismally
would depend upon the courage and
promptness with which the boatswain
and l should act at the last moment
1t was worse for me that ! did not
know the exact plans of the mutineers.
was aware that their intention was
to scuttle the ship and leave her, with
us on board, to sink; but how they
would do this | did not know. | mean
l could rot fOresee whether they would
scuttle the ship while all the crew re-
manned on board, stopping until they
knew the vessel was actually sinking
before taking to the boats, or whether
they would get into the boats, leaving
one man in the hold TO seuttle the ship,
and, lying by. to take him of when his
work should have been performed.
Either was likely; but one would
make our preservation comparatively
easy; the other would make 1t almost
impossible.
| made sure the carpenter would 20
to bed us soon rs he had done break
fast, but instead of doing so he went
to the port side of the long boat, ac-
companied by johnson, the cook and IL
couple of the hands, and presently ]
heard the futtering and screaming of
hens.
l crossed the poop to see what was
the matter, and found all four men
wringing the nccks of the poultry. In
a short time, about sixteen hens-all
that remained-lay dead in heap near
the coop. The cook and johnson gath
cred them up and carried them into the
galley.
Soon after they returned and clam
bered on to the top of the long-beat.
the cover of which they pitched off,
and fell, each with knife in his hand,
upon the pigs The noise now was
hideous. The pigs squealed like human
beings; but both men probably knew
their work, for the screeching did not
last above five minutes.
The cook, with his face, arms and
breaches all bloody. flung the carcasscs
among the men, who had gathered
round to witness the sport, and deal
of ugly play followed. They tossed the
slaughtered pigs at each other, and
men and pigs fell down with tremen-
dous thuds: and soon there was not Il
man who did not look as though he had
been rolled for an <,our in the gutter of
SHAMELESS. Their hoarse laughter,
their horrible oathS, their rage not
more shocking than their mirth, the
live men rolling over the dead pigs,
their faces and clothes ghastly with
lloOd-all this was Il scene which made
one abhor ones self for laughing at it.
though it was impossible to help laugh
ing sometimes. But occasionally my
mirtli woull be checked by sudden
spasm of terror, when | caught sight
of fellow with an infuriate face. mon
strOuS with its crimson coioring, rush
with his knife at another. and be struck
down like a ninepin by dead pig
hurled full at his head before he could
deliver his blow.
The saturnalia came to an end, and
the men, cursing, growing, groaning
and laughing - some reeling half
stunned. and all painting for breath
surged into the fOrecastle to clean
themselves, while the cook and John
son carried the pigs int the galley.
l did not quite understand what this
scene heralded. but had not long to
wait before it was explained.
After much delay the decks were
washed down and two men cleaned
out the long boat A large quantity
of provisions and rum were then
stored near the for.mast, ready to be
shipped in the loDg-b boat.
These preparations brought the
reality of our position home to me,
yet preserved my composure.
Presently the carpenter came to |
where l was standing. and asked me
how many hands the long-boat would |
carry.
About twenty" 1 replied.
One on top other, IKE cattle!
he growled. Why, mate, there |
wouldn't be standin' ROOM"
Do you mean to put off from the |
ship in her?'
In Der and one Of them ethers,"
he replied, meaning the qaarter-boats.
If you want my opinion, l should |
say that all hands ought to get into
the long-boat She has heaps of beam,
and will carry us all we'll Besides,
abe COZ, sail If will look hattar too